Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-04

admit that she is possessed OF hne talents
in more respects than one."
! was quite sore on the subject OF Miss
Ballou, for it was only a few months
since she seemed all at nee to have
taken a great fancy to me-not at first
sight, for we had met before for years
and |, therefore, gradually began to see
all manner of qualities, admirable and
lovable. in her. However. just a. l was
beginning to ponder earnestly on our
mutual attraction, to my discontinue ]
became aware of the fact that her pref
erence for me was on the wane. And
in a short time l was convinced beyond
a doubt that l was no longer her beau
ideal, for she was openly bestowing her
favors on another, a young man with
whom she sang a good deal at that time.
/ cannot say that / suffered terribly on
account Of this little episode in my qui-
city flowing student life, for | am of too
practical and prosy a turn of mind to
dream of dying of a broken heart. But
the affair annoyed and vexed me ex-
ceedingly at the time, and left me rather
sensitive in regard to Miss Ballou.
felt like warning my u~nsuspecting
Don mate, for | knew that a common
love for music is apt to draw two hearts
together. But on second thought |
considered it best not to prejudice him
against her.
But what | feared came all too soon.
F. Ta-.l h.l NJ hnan taA- in
O.. before he was known as the most
talented and promising of the students
of the conservatory. He was made much
of by the several professors and teachers
there, and his playing was a marked
feature at their frequent Solrees and
concerts.
Everybody liked him. and all with suf-
fcient understanding for it were de-
lighted with his music.
True 10 his chosen art, he had a high
standard. and was seldom satisfied with
his performance himself.
This popularity of his no doubt fat
tered Miss Ballou's vanity when it had
became a settled fact that she was a
necessity to him.
/ remember how one night, after a o n
cert at which Ernest had gathered fresh
%laurels. | walked behind them. as Miss
Ballou leaned upon his arm, clInging, as
if she would say, what he is and what
he does belongs to me, for We have all
things in common"
Was she really in love with him? 1t
certainly appeared so. And yet oft
times, when / viewed him as he lay,
tired and hollow.eycd from hours Of
tedious practice, on the lounge in our
room, despite the fact that he was really
the best-hearted fellow that / had ever
met with. | could not make out what
it could be that attracted pretty little
Annie Ballou so strongly to him.
But, let him come into a musical cir
Gle. Let all eyes be turned to him as
the head figure. Let him take his be-
loved instrument and draw from it ten
der, melting tones, such as only he who
was born to speak in the language of
tones can bring forth, and i under.
erstood 1t all.
At such times l could see her face
glow with undisguised admiration and
sympathy. She comprehended his Ian
guage. She forgot the nan and saw
and admired only the musician. Miss
Ballou, who had lost her mother when
but a child. lived with her widowed
aunt, Mrs. Foster, who had a fine home
just opposite Mrs. Barnes modest dwell
ing. There was not a day on which
Ernest Conrad did not, at least once,
and often W. and three times. cross the
street to the house of Mrs. Foster. to
visit Miss Ballou. The aunt of the
latter had always been very indulgent
toward her, and was never more pleased
than when her niece was enjoying her.
self. She therefore let the young people
have their own way entirely.
Annie ami Ernest made good use OF
thus being left to themselves, though, ]
think, most OF their time they practiced
together, he playing on the violin, she
accompanying him on the piano, for
Miss BalIou was a good player as well as
singer.
II ever a man loved sincerely, Ernest
Conrad did. He often spoke TO ME of
his plans for the future, but always in
connection with Miss Baliou. | often
mildly demonstrated with him, telling
him that he could not be so sure of An
ME linking her lot TO his, that many
things might interfere, but he would
not listen. "Oh, no,n he would say,
annie understands and sympathizes
with me as only one other person ever
does, and that is my mother. We could
never be happy apart"
There was an air of sadness about him
when he spoke thus, as if a vague doubt
as to the realization Of the bright pros.
pect he wa picturing to himself as
sailed him.
Poor fellow! The whole affair ended
quickly and sadly enough. One fore
noon, after just coming from there
Ernest remarked TO me that there was a
visitor at Mrs. Fosters.
"A ladyy' | questioned.
"No, a gentleman" / looked at him.
His eyes were directed toward the win
dow. His face wore a troubled look.
"Old or young mani" ! questioned
further.
-Oh, he is rather young yet" he an.
swered, rousing himself; ~he may be 80,
though"
did not seek to satisfy my curiosity
further. He was evidently disinclined
to speak. saw the gentleman in ques.
ton a very few hours afterward, how
49,. .,.a .allantla ..a-.-- NJ